Galway City Council puts €130,000–€160,000 value on Merlin Woods timber
Council officials provided this figure during a recent project update at City Hall.
Officials said much of the timber was already on the ground and of relatively low value, while the market had also been affected by the volume of timber available following Storm Éowyn.
The council said the clearance had gone through a public procurement process, which attracted one expression of interest, and the appointed contractor is a highly qualified forester.
The clearance is being carried out on a cost-neutral basis, meaning the council is not paying the contractor for the tree clearance.
Councillors sought clarity over whether brash – branches and other material left following felling – would be removed from the woodland.
“Norwegian spruce is an acidic species,” said Cllr Alan Curran (Soc Dem). “It leeches acid into the soil and the brash must be removed. It smothers the woodland.”
Officials said the removal of the brash was being costed before subsequently confirming that it would be removed.
Questions were also raised over the cost of replanting Merlin Woods once the clearance work is complete.
The council intends to seek funding under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's NeighbourWood Scheme.
The scheme could cover up to 85 per cent of the restoration costs, with the balance coming from other funding sources and/or the council's own budget.
The restoration project will see 15.41 hectares of fallen or damaged trees cleared, while 18 hectares, or 54 per cent of the overall Merlin Woods area, will be retained.
Officials said the high-risk status of the trees identified in the arborist's report meant there was a risk of fatality and that canopy dynamics are a “technical piece of work.”
They said the remaining trees were at risk of falling without another storm on the scale of Storm Éowyn.
The council's report states that once fallen trees are removed, the potential for standing trees to fail increases significantly, and that the risk compounds over time.
Cllr Alan Cheevers (FF) said it was “an emotive issue” for people living on the east side of the city and raised concerns about funding for replanting.
He also hit out at poor communication with residents.
Planting following the clearance works will be primarily hazel, with officials saying this was based on advice relating to a food source for red squirrels.
The council's biodiversity outdoor crew will be involved in a squirrel feeding programme, with officials saying they hoped Friends of Merlin Woods and other volunteer groups would also participate.
It was highlighted that no councillors attended an information meeting on the Restoration Project held on the evening of July 22.
Meanwhile, 24-hour security patrols are being introduced at Merlin Woods following ongoing incidents of criminal damage to perimeter fencing and ecological protection measures.
The council warned that continued damage could result in further restrictions.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme